Manny gets cut from Rangers farm team

PRESS BOX

BASEBALLManny Ramirez has been released from his minor-league contract by the Texas Rangers. The 41-year-old Ramirez hit .259 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 30 games for Triple-A Round Rock after agreeing to a deal early last month.

He hit all of the homers in the first eight games. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday that Ramirez was released so he could pursue other opportunities if he chooses. Daniels said, based on the team's evaluation, there wasn't a spot on the Rangers' roster for Ramirez. The 12-time All-Star is a .312 career hitter, and is 14th on the career home runs list with 555. He started the season playing in Taiwan.

The Minnesota Twins have placed first baseman Justin Morneau on revocable waivers. If Morneau is claimed before today's deadline, the Twins can work out a trade with the claiming team, let that team take his contract, or pull him back and keep him in Minnesota. If he is not claimed, the Twins are free to negotiate with any team. Morneau was drafted by the Twins in 1999 and has been a cornerstone of the team for a decade. He is in the final year of his contract. He declined to comment Tuesday about being placed on waivers.

Suspended Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz is heading home to the Dominican Republic, where he will work out before returning to Texas later this month. General manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday that Cruz will spend about 12 days in the Dominican. The All-Star right fielder has a home gym and will visit the team's complex there. Cruz was suspended for the final 50 games of the regular season in Major League Baseball's investigation into a Florida clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. He was one of 13 MLB players disciplined last week.

The Atlanta Braves have placed second baseman Dan Uggla on the 15-day disabled list so he can have corrective eye surgery. Tyler Pastornicky has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and will start at second base in Tuesday night's game against the Phillies. Uggla, hitting only .186, has battled eye problems this season and has experimented with contact lenses.

PRO FOOTBALL

Burress' season is likely over after surgery

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put wide receiver Plaxico Burress on the injured reserve list, likely ending his season. The Steelers made the move Tuesday, a day after Burress turned 36. Burress had surgery Monday morning to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Burress joined the NFL with Pittsburgh in 2000. He has caught 553 passes for 8,499 yards and 64 touchdowns in the regular season with the Steelers, Giants and Jets. He played three games for Pittsburgh last season. In the 2008 Super Bowl, Burress caught a 13-yard TD pass with 35 seconds left to lift the Giants over the New England Patriots.

Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles had his ailing right foot examined by two orthopedic surgeons and they confirmed the Kansas City Chiefs' diagnosis of a mild strain. Charles turned his right ankle early in practice on Monday. ''His ankle ligaments were fine,'' Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said. ''He had some pain on the outside bone of his foot. We did an X-ray. That was negative. There's a tendon that attaches right at that spot and that's what is sore right now. That's why we call it a strain.'' Charles walked down the long, grassy hill to the practice fields Tuesday without a boot or a noticeable limp. He spent some time with the training staff off to the side, riding a stationary bike but only using the arm levers, before leaving the field for the rest of practice.

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets are willing to wait a while before picking Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith as the starting quarterback — not just for the regular season, but for the team's next preseason game Saturday night. ''I think it's too early to say,'' Ryan said Tuesday when asked if either is ahead right now. ''And just to say this guy is leading or whatever, again, the competition is not complete. I think we'll go through the competition and I'm confident the right decision will be made.'' As for this weekend's home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, both Ryan and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said there are ''variables'' involved, including Smith's recovery from a mild ankle sprain.

Members of the Miami Dolphins who achieved the only perfect season in NFL history will be honored by the White House next Tuesday, more than 40 years after their accomplishment. President Barack Obama will welcome the 1972 Dolphins for the first White House ceremony honoring the only team to go 17-0. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula plans to accompany players from the team to the event. The team also included quarterback Bob Griese, receiver Paul Warfield, fullback Larry Csonka, center Jim Langer, guard Larry Little and linebacker Nick Buoniconti, all members of the Hall of Fame.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clowney returns to practice for Gamecocks

South Carolina All-American lineman Jadeveon Clowney has returned to practice after missing the past two sessions with a bruised shoulder. Clowney sat out Saturday's scrimmage and Monday night's practice before returning to the field on Tuesday. South Carolina did not practice Sunday. Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward had said the injury was not serious.